The 60-second version
Trade licence is municipal — Mumbai BMC, Delhi MCD, Bengaluru BBMP each have online portals. I apply after Shop Act and before GST if turnover triggers.
Trade licence is municipal — Shop Act is state labour
Trade licence grants permission to run a commercial activity at a specific premises — separate from state Shop and Establishment registration.
Restaurants and food businesses need FSSAI in addition — municipal health inspector may visit before grant.
Home offices with client visits may still need trade licence in strict municipalities — pure WFH with no signage often exempt.
Labour: Shop Act guide.
Trade licence by city (illustrative)
| City | Portal | Annual fee band |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | BMC portal | ₹500–₹25,000 by category |
| Delhi | MCD online | ₹500–₹15,000 |
| Bengaluru | BBMP Sakala | ₹1,000–₹20,000 |
| Hyderabad | GHMC | ₹500–₹12,000 |
| Pune | PMC | ₹500–₹10,000 |
Trade licence sequence
Identify ward
Municipal ward from property tax bill.
Online application
Upload rent agreement + Shop Act + ID.
Fee payment
UPI / challan per category tariff.
Inspection
Health/fire visit for food premises.
Certificate download
Display at premises — renew annually.
Compliance stack
Trade licence kit
- Rent agreement.
- Shop Act cert.
- PAN.
- Property NOC.
- FSSAI if food.
Need help with Move Planning?
Share your blocker in one line. Our experts will reply with practical next steps.
Pure freelancer
No client-facing premises often skips trade licence — confirm with ward office in writing.
Quick visual
Animated decision map
Community signal
What to watch in real discussions
Search community threads for the exact phrase, then treat repeated complaints as risk signals rather than official advice.
Open nofollow community search ->Interactive checkpoint
Turn this guide into a decision file
0 of 4 checked
OCI can apply?
Yes with Indian business address and valid labour registrations.
Same as Gumasta?
Maharashtra Gumasta is Shop Act — trade licence is additional BMC permit.
Home bakery?
FSSAI + trade licence both required in most cities.
Renewal?
Annual — set calendar reminder 30 days before expiry.
Multiple branches?
Separate licence per premises.
Penalty without licence?
Sealing + fine — do not open storefront without grant.
The plan is only as good as the sequence.
Tax, banking, schools, shipping — they all have dependencies. A wrong order costs months and lakhs. Get it right.